Floor-polishing machine



May s, 1928. 1,668,692

G. O. MISKIMEN FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5. 1926 lnvgntor wqe0/ w/rzmerv, q

Attorney Patented May 8, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O. MISKIMEN, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

FLOORPOLISHING MACHINE.

Application filed August 5, 1926. Serial No. 127,380.

The present invention relates to improvements in fioor polishing machines, and has for its principal object to provide a casing which is adapted to be detachably connected to the front face of the vacuum cleaner casing, a longitudinal driven shaft being mounted in the detachable casing, and being operatively connected at its inner end to the forward end of the drive shaft of the motor of the vacuum cleaner, said drive-n shaft being operatively connected to a vertically reciprocable shaft which carries on its lower end a polishing member.

A further object is to provide an improved floor polishing machine of the above mentioned character which will only necessitate the removal of the nozzle from the vacuum cleaner in order to permit the floor polishing attachment to be mounted on the vacuum cleaner, thereby saving considerable expense in obviating the necessity of having to provide a. separate electrically driven floor polishing machine as well as a vacuum cleaner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of the present application and in which like numerals designate like parts through out the same Figure 1 is a side elevation of the floor polishing machine embod ing my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device embodying my invention and showing more specifically the manner in which the driven shaft is connected to the drive shaft of the electric motor of the vacuum cleaner.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the motor and fan casing of a vacuum cleaner of any well known construction, the same having the usual nozzle removed from the forward end thereof to permit the attachment of the floor polishing device embodying my invention to be attached to the vacuum cleaner.

The drive shaft of the electric motor mounted in the vacuum cleaner carries on its forward end the usual propeller or fan 2 and a nut 3 is threaded on the forward end of the drive shaft 3 as clearly shown in Figure 2 for the purposes well known in the ar My improved floor polishing machine comprises an elongated horizontally disposed casing or housing 4, the forward end of which is formed with the downwardly disposed sleeve portion 5. The u per portion of the forward end of the housing or casin 4 is open and a cover plate 6 is provide therefor.

An annular flange 7 is formed on the rear end of the casing or housing 4 and is adapted to be disposed against the forward face of the vacuum cleaner and held in position thereon through the medium of the usual securing clips shown at 8 which clips are provided for the purpose of holding the usual nozzle on the vacuum cleaner. In this manner, the casing 4 will be supported on the forward end of the vacuum cleaner against accidental displacement.

A shaft 9 extends longitudinally through the horizontally disposed casing 4 and is supported in suitable bearings 10 and 11 provided therefor within the casing as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The inner end of this shaft is formed with a socket 12 for cooperation with the nut 3 secured on the forward end of the drive shaft of the electric motor (not shown) so that an operative connection between the drive shaft and the driven shaft is afforded for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A stub shaft 13 is arranged vertically within the depending sleeve portion 5 of the casing 4, and the lower end of this stub shaft is reduced and externally threaded.

A circular metallic plate 15 is di sed over the reduced lower end 14 of the shaft 13 and is fixedly mounted thereon against accidental displacement by means of the nut 16. In this manner, the circular plate 15 will rotate simultaneously with the shaft 13. The floor engaging member comprises a circular pad formed preferably of felt and the same is designated by the numeral 17 in the drawing. This polishing member is attached to the bottom face of the circular metallic plate 15 in any suitable manner. The central portion of this pad is provided with an enlarged opening 18 to accommodate the lower reduced end 14 of the shaft 13 and the securing nut- 16 as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

The up er end of the shaft 13 extends into the orward end of the horizontally disposed casing 4 and splined thereon is the beveled gear 19. A inion 20 is secured on the forward end of t e horizontally disposed driven shaft 9 and the same meshes with the bevel gear 19 for rotatin the shaft 13 and the pad carried on the ower end thereof. By arranging the bevel gear 19 on the shaft 13 in the manner clearly shown in the drawing, the shaft 13 will be permitted to move vertically so that the weight of the polishing pad 17 will at all times cause the same to rest on the surface of the floor. An annular bearing ring 21 extends upwardly from the circular plate 15 and surrounds the lower end of the depending sleeve 5 to provide a bearing for the lower end of the sleeve.

For the purpose of preventin dust or any other foreign matter entering t e vacuum cleaner while the olishing attachment is associated therewith, I provide the washer 22, the same being held a ainst the bearing 10 and encircling the sha t9 in the manner clearly illustrated in Fi ure 2. A retaining ring 23 is rovided or properly maintaming the pac ing washer in proper position.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawing, it is obvious that when the current to the electric motor of the vacuum cleaner is turned on, the connection of the socket 12 with the nut 3 will cause the drive shaft of the electric motor to rotate the shaft 9 and through the medium of the intermeshing gear and pinion 19 and 20, the brush carrying shaft 13 will also be rotated and as the vacuum cleaner 1 is moved across the floor, the bottom face of the felt pad 17 will engage the surface of the floor and thereby polish the same.

The simplicity in which my device is constructed enable the same to be readily and easily attached or detached and the parts are further so arranged as to render the same readily accessible and furthermore at all time positive and efficient in their operation. While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it-is to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A polishin device wherein the operating elements inc ude the motor, fan, and fan casing of an ordinary vacuum cleaner, said device comprising in combination a tubular casing, means to detachably connect the casing at one end to the fan casing and over the suction inlet opening thereof, asleeve extending downwardly from the other end of the casing, a shaft extending longitudinally through the tubular casing being operatively connected at its inner end with the motor, a vertical reciprocable stub shaft arranged in the sleeve, a polishing member secured on the lower end of the stub shaft, an annular bearing ring carried by the polishing member and extending upwardly therefrom and surrounding the lower portion of the sleeve to provide a bearing therefor, and means for operatively connecting 30 the adjacent ends of the shafts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE O. MISKIMEN. 

